To the Point (4 letters)

Charles Krauthammer never held a single elected office, but he thinks he can advise the country. Tough chops, Chuck.

Larry McLaughlin, Aurora

If cities are going to adopt fees for plastic bags, let’s be fair and charge for an even bigger plastic waste problem. Attach a fee at the cash register for every box of diapers and every plastic bottle. Those items are polluting our landfills way more than trash bags.

Mr. McLaughlin, I believe many men and women have found cause to criticize Mr. Krauthammer, and perhaps some of their complaints have merit. But to criticize Krauthammer for criticizing government without having government service is stupid, dumb, and arrogant.
Hundreds of pundits, and millions of citizens, criticize the government daily, with no public office experience whatsoever. It’s our right and duty as Americans. Americans, no matter their socioeconomic status, race, national origin, gender, religion, disability status, military status (except as defined in UCMJ), sexual orientation, political affiliation, etc. are free to say anything they darn well please about the president, his or her cabinet, all members of congress, all state officials, all local officials, and the civil servants of all levels of government.
Although, …
With two hard-working, dedicated sisters in government civil service, I may question the intellect of anyone who complains about the latter.

Al

“are free to say anything they darn well please about the president”

Not if you’re a clown.

peterpi

Freedom of speech does not preclude consequences.
I am free to yell “Obama’s a fink!” and the government can’t do anything about it, although the NSA will add me to their top 100 music list. But, if I do so over a department store PA system during my duties as the cosmetics dept. manager, the department store can fire me, no questions asked.
If a clown, over a rodeo’s PA system asks the crowd if a bull should trample Obama, the rodeo has the right to fire the clown, if the clown exceeded the rodeo’s guidelines, or embarrassed the rodeo. Look it up.
People want freedom of speech — against people they disagree with — but then whine when something happens as a consequence of that speech.
Grow up.
When the Dixie Chicks said something disparaging of President Bush, and country music stations stopped playing their music for a while, and their record sales dipped for a while, I bet you didn’t shed a tear. But God forbid someone should criticize a rodeo clown mocking — or worse — president Obama.

Robtf777

“Charles Krauthammer never held a single elected office, but he thinks he can advise the country. Tough chops, Chuck.”
============
In 2008, Obama was a Junior Congressman……up against Hillary Clinton……whose ONLY claim-to-experience was being a former Fist Lady.

And guess what? Being a former Sec of State…..is not an “elected” office either.

The FACT is that even President Obama has “advisers” in the White House who advise him on all sorts of issues……and who even write his speeches for him to read…..and NONE OF THEM hold an “elected office.”

But UNLIKE Obama and his group of advisers……Charles Krauthammer writes a syndicated column…….because he is apparently that…..good and credible. ……even if those who don’t like him don’t think so.

mrfxx

So – Hillary Clinton’s ONLY experience was as First Lady? How misogynistic of you Robt (although as a good far-right Christian, your opinion of the worth of women is only marginally higher than that of a believer in Sharia Law, which by the way conflicts with what is taught in Quran)

She has a JD (doctor of jurisprudence) from Yale and practiced law beginning in 1973 – in 1979 she was named the first female partner at Rose Law Firm and was twice named one of the most influential lawyers in America (regardless of gender).

She co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families in 1977, a non-profit with the mission statement “to protect and promote through research, education and advocacy the rights and well-being of Arkansas children and their families, to assure that they have the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives.” The non-partisan organization is still in existence and attempting to live up to that mission statement.

Hillary Clinton became the first female chair of the Legal Services Corporation in 1978 (a national organization) – while still practicing family law ANY serving at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.

As First Lady of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and 1983 to 1992 with husband Bill as Governor, she successfully led a task force to reform Arkansas’s education system. During that time, she was a member of the board of directors of Wal-Mart Stores and several other corporations.

As First Lady of the US, her pet project (the Clinton health care plan) was killed in Congress; however, in 1997 and 1999, Clinton played a role in advocating the creation of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Adoption and Safe Families Act, and the Foster Care Independence Act.

She was elected Senator from New York in 2000 – and reelected in 2006 by a wide margin (in other words, she served twice as long in the Senate as Obama did).

However – despite that resume, the lack of respect shown a WOMAN running for president by both the media and BOTH parties was clearly indicated by not only their focus on her wardrobe, but the constant referring to her as MRS. Clinton instead of as SENATOR Clinton, while referring to all the male opponents by their elected titles (Senator McCain, Senator Obama, Governor Romney – despite the fact that he hadn’t been governor of Massachusetts for a year, etc ad nauseum).

You sir bring to mind the old 60’s epithet of male chauvinist pig!

peterpi

[Most Muslim societies’ treatment of women] “which by the way conflicts with what is taught in Quran.”
Spot on!

Robtf777

“If cities are going to adopt fees for plastic bags, let’s be fair and
charge for an even bigger plastic waste problem. Attach a fee at the
cash register for every box of diapers and every plastic bottle. Those
items are polluting our landfills way more than trash bags.”
=============
One plastic 2-litre bottle contains more plastic than a few plastic bags.

Quite possibly, one plastic-wrapped package of hamburger meat contains more plastic than does a plastic bag.

And what has more plastic: A single plastic bag……or…..the individually-wrapped-in-plastic 16 slices of American cheese that is wrapped in MORE plastic?

The FACT is that is we add up the total volume and weight of ALL the plastic-packaging that surrounds all the stuff most people put in their “green cloth bags”……and compare that to the weight and volume of a plastic bag……the “greenies” who use cloth bags are “saving the planet” a MINISCULE amount of plastic.

And while the “greenies”: will claim that “every little bit helps”……that is ALL they are suggesting: Charging a nickel to save a Very Little Bit.

Robtf777

“Thank God. I have been worried sick about the greater sage-grouse. Now, please tell me the lesser sage-grouse is OK.”
=============
Actually….there is MORE stuff we should be…..worried about.

If – IF – it is true that someday it will become economically feasible to buy “laboratory-produced” and “manufacturing plant manufactured” hamburger. hot dogs, sausage…….and maybe even steaks, chicken breasts, pork roasts, ham, and bacon………what will we need actual cows, chickens, and pigs for?

I suppose we could still get milk from cows……but we don’t get milk from chickens or turkeys or pigs…..and if laboratory-produced” “meats” can be “grown” and “formed” in a manufacturing plant…….it is quite possible that many of our “barnyard animals” will eventually become……unnecessary……and anything that is…..unnecessary…..may just be allowed to die off.

Gee…..imagine taking your grandkids to the zoo in 30 years……and oohing and aahing over……not just lions and tigers and bears……but cows and pigs and lambs and chickens…….because they will be so few of them left…….and they really don’t exist in the “wild.”

ThePyro

Mr. McLaughlin – Neither have Rush Limbaugh, Bill Mahr, Tim Russert, Matt Drudge, Jon Stewart, Sean Hannity, Rachel Maddow or a host of others that fill the airwaves and print realms these days. Krauthammer is one fish amongst an amazingly large and diverse pond…and he and his counterparts have every right to their opinion, just like each and every one of us. That they’ve somehow managed to find a national outlet for theirs doesn’t make it any less deserving of consideration than yours or mine.

Mr. Phillips – Right on!

Mr. Laubach – It may seem silly that the Feds are taking on the protection of specific animals when they can’t seem to pass a financial bill or settle on human rights issues. But it’s in the direct responsibility of certain government agencies to do so. Would you rather those animals disappear? If not, what is your alternative? If so…then you should seek to abolish the laws that require those agencies to do the work they’re chartered to do, not ask silly questions in letters to the editor.

guest

The disposable diaper kerfuffle is the fault of a poor study done about 20 years ago. The study found that 55% + of the waste in landfills was disposable diapers. In reality it is only a few percent of the total volume.

wwwDOTgfredleeDOTcom

/torontor.htm

primafacie

Mr. McLaughlin, given your sense of logic, unless you’ve written a nationally syndicated column, perhaps you’d be so kind as to withhold your advice as well.

I’ve never played quarterback in the NFL, been a chef in a five-star restaurant or served on the U.S. Supreme Court, but I’ve got a few thoughts on those subjects. I suspect you do, as well.

Maybe some day, someone will pay you for your analysis. Until then, Mr. Krauthammer has got you in the credibility department.

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